The Original Brand Popsicle® Swoops in as the SuperHero of the Summer

This summer, the Original Brand Popsicle® – having saved families from heat and boredom with bold flavors, fun shapes and its icy-cool refreshing taste since 1905 – will become a true SuperHero with its first-ever comic book. To help spread the SuperHero news and excitement, the Popsicle Brand has teamed up with actress, entrepreneur, and supermom of two, Vanessa Lachey.

“I am thrilled to partner with the Popsicle Brand Team on their summer campaign,” said Vanessa Lachey. “Popsicle pops are one of my family’s favorite treats and SuperHeroes are huge in my house right now.”

Popsicle, in partnership with SuperHero expert Marvel Custom Solutions, a division of Marvel Entertainment, will release its first-ever SuperHero comic book available in select Marvel retail stores and on www.Popsicle.com. Popsicle will release a series of nine digital comics on Popsicle.com on the first “official” day of summer, June 21. Families can also pick up their own limited-edition hard copy comic book, featuring all nine comics, at select Marvel retail stores beginning in July. The comic series details the heroic escapades of Popsicle characters Mandy, Pete and Ace, who were sent to save the summer.

In addition to the comic book release, Popsicle invites families nationwide to visit its new SuperHero hub, “Deep Freeze 9,” on Popsicle.com. The hub provides SuperHero-themed family activities including a “Mission Control” that will house the comics and an action-packed trailer; the “Flavor Force Lab,” providing parents and kids with comic-inspired crafts; and, the option to sign up for an ongoing e-newsletter and be among the first to access the official digital comics.

“From being the staple of the neighborhood summer barbeque, to mom’s go-to afternoon treat for her kids, the iconic Popsicle ice pop has long been the original SuperHero of the summer,” said Nick Soukas, brand building director, U.S. Unilever Ice Cream. “As makers of the Original Brand Popsicle, we are excited to be part of the SuperHero fun and extend the opportunity to families all summer long with our first-ever Popsicle Brand comic book and new online hub, ‘Deep Freeze 9.'”

“When the Marvel Custom Solutions team met with the Popsicle marketing team for cool ideas for 2015, we wanted to come up with a program that would set Popsicle apart from other brands in the category,” said Jonathan Rheingold, V.P. of Marvel Custom Solutions.

Popsicle pops come in the iconic yellow box and are available in more than 20 unique flavors including the childhood favorites Orange, Cherry and Grape. This year, the iconic Popsicle brand expanded its line of family-favorite pops to include three new varieties:

My son loves Popsicle so he was quite excited when we received a couple of free coupons. He quickly selected the Jelly Belly Popsicles. We couldn’t find the Popsicle Tootsie Pops yet but we are on the look-out! My son loves the variety of flavors and this brand has the best choices! Look for them this Summer near you!

Exciting News! The first-ever Popsicle comics by Marvel Custom Solutions are available now on Popsicle.com. Hard copies will be for sale in select comic book store starting in mid-July.

To learn even more about the Popsicle “Original SuperHero of Summer” comic series, families can like the Popsicle Facebook fan page at Facebook.com/Popsicle and can follow Popsicle on Twitter at Twitter.com/Popsicle.

Self Disclosure: I received free coupons to facilitate this post. No other compensation was received. Photo and press info: Courtesy of Popsicle.

About Unilever United States, Inc.
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Refreshments, Home and Personal Care products with sales in more than 190 countries. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Consort For Men, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Just for Me!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Motions, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Simple, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TIGI, TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe, TRESemme and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States – generating approximately $8.5 billion in sales in 2014.

Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) aims to double the size of its business, while reducing its overall environmental footprint and increasing positive social impact. The USLP is Unilever’s strategic response to the challenges businesses face operating in an uncertain and volatile world. See more on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan at http://www.unileverusa.com/sustainable-living/.

Unilever ranked number one in its sector on the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. All of Unilever’s global factory network, as well as its US non-manufacturing facilities and dedicated distribution centers, have achieved zero non-hazardous waste to landfill status.

About Marvel Custom Solutions
Custom Solutions is Marvel’s in-house creative agency that leverages all the greatest talent within Marvel Entertainment to create highly dynamic and compelling content and campaigns for global brands. Marvel Custom Solutions has the ability to deploy the work it creates through its robust print, digital, social and theatrical platforms, adding scale to the programs it creates.